Glen Johnson insists Liverpool’s season ranks as an improvement on their
trophy-winning campaign last year, despite the prospect of missing out on
European qualification.

Mnid the gap: Kenny Dalglish's Liverpool won two trophies last term, but Glen Johnson - pictured here in the goalless draw with West Ham United - insists that this season, with the Reds currently seventh in the Premier League, is more successfulPhoto: PA

Liverpool remain in seventh place in the Premier League, effectively relying on Chelsea to win the Europa League and finish fifth in order to play in continental competition next season. Kenny Dalglish lost his job a year ago after winning the League Cup and reaching the FA Cup final, an eighth-place finish and 17-point gap to the top four considered unacceptable.

Brendan Rodgers has been unable to get close to breaking in to the Champions League positions in his first season – they are nine points behind fourth-placed Tottenham – but there is no doubt that different criteria has been applied when judging his debut campaign at Anfield.

The club’s owners Fenway Sports Group appointed Rodgers to impose a longer-term plan and he was granted certain leeway to rebuild his squad after the loss of several experienced players and numerous backroom changes and alterations in training methods.

He understands the level of expectation from board and supporters will be much greater next season as Liverpool need to get back in to Europe’s elite competition or risk falling even further behind on and off the pitch, and Johnson is adamant the development is visible under new management.

“It is clearly a better season than last season,” the England right back said. “Brendan is looking to improve the squad and we have got a better squad than we had. He will look to improve again in the summer. We will be right in amongst it [next season].”

When asked about what had improved the 28-year old said: “It’s a few things. You look at the squad, the feeling that there is around the place, the football that we are playing and eight times out of 10 we have been battering teams.

“That wasn’t the case last season. We won a trophy last season and of course that was fantastic. Everyone wants to win – that’s what we are in the game for. But in terms of getting Liverpool back where they belong, we want to be back in the top four.

“Brendan was brought in to rebuild the squad and put Liverpool back in to the place that it should be. He wants to put us back in the top four but he wasn’t asked to do that in his first season. This season has been a step closer to that. Of course everyone – players, staff, fans – would love us to be back in the top four but if we improve on last season then it is a step in the right direction.”

Johnson sees the frustrating draw against West Ham last weekend as symptomatic of Liverpool’s campaign, although similar was argued a year ago.

In real terms, if Liverpool collect four more points from their remaining six games they will have beaten last year’s haul of 52. They have also improved their results as the season has progressed, even though the rest of the campaign is little more than an exercise in trying to steal sixth spot from Everton.

“Sometimes, like against West Ham, we haven’t come away with the points that we deserve,” Johnson said. “It is difficult. We have battered teams but if we don’t get that early goal, it has given them encouragement.

“There have been a few games where we have played well and not picked up the points we should have. Yet we are still pretty close to the top four. If you take the positives and if we can start nicking goals in games like against West Ham on Sunday, then we are going to be right in amongst it next season.”